AST Pakistan Airways to introduce DC-9 freighter service

[Abbas Ali]

AST Pakistan Airways DC-9-33 freighter - Image Source: AST Pakistan Airways

Latest news from airline's official website:

* AST Pakistan Airways to start Umrah flights from Karachi and Lahore after Hajj 2006.

* AST Pakistan Airways to introduce daily courier service between UAE & Pakistan using DC-9-33 freighter painted in airline’s own green colour scheme.

* AST Pakistan Airways to establish office at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi.

Also check-out airline's website with new look at www.astpakistan.com

[PK777]

Good to see the cargo aviatio market improving. Hopefully, they will go intl in afew years if they prove to be successful.

[raza]

another Gas-guzzler airline with old a/c

[PK777]

another Gas-guzzler airline with old a/c

Well, I wouldnt call them gas guzzlers considering they are still used on a large scale in many western countries and by many well known airlines for passenger and cargo operations. For example, Northwest Airlines (NWA), DHL, USJet, Evergreen International, FedEX are just afew names. Thank God they didnt go for those russian made aircraft that are true gas guzzlers!

[flyingsystem]

Thank God they didnt go for those russian made aircraft that are true gas guzzlers!

Which aircraft are u thinking about? Russians have (relatively) new and old aircrafts. Just an example: the TU-204 is comparable to the 757.
Most probably you are talking about the Il-76 and An-26 type.

Btw, the DC-8 is a beautiful aircraft.

[PK777]

Which aircraft are u thinking about? Russians have (relatively) new and old aircrafts. Just an example: the TU-204 is comparable to the 757.
Most probably you are talking about the Il-76 and An-26 type.

Yes, I was refering to those. Remember when Bhoja air and Hajvairy Airlines, they used the Il-86 russian jet liners. they accumulated a higher gas to passenger ratio, hence, causing them to make losses and eventually bankrupcy.

In todays market, not many world recognised airlines aquire russian made aircraft no matter how new they are! It usually countires that are under sanctions that have no alternatives.

[raihans]

has this DC9 reached Pakistan or still in UAE? Is it registered with CAA Pak?

Remember when Bhoja air and Hajvairy Airlines, they used the Il-86 russian jet liners.

Bhoja Air used the russian Yak-42s

[flyingsystem]

In todays market, not many world recognised airlines aquire russian made aircraft no matter how new they are! It usually countires that are under sanctions that have no alternatives.

Yes, you are right but there is an aircraft which will change this: the Sukhoi Superjet 100. Take a look on wikipedia, and there are a few "western" countries which are interested in it.

[PK777]

has this DC9 reached Pakistan or still in UAE? Is it registered with CAA Pak?

Remember when Bhoja air and Hajvairy Airlines, they used the Il-86 russian jet liners.

Bhoja Air used the russian Yak-42s

Yes, that's the one! Look what happened to those - rusting away on the KHI tarmac...

[PK777]

In todays market, not many world recognised airlines aquire russian made aircraft no matter how new they are! It usually countires that are under sanctions that have no alternatives.

Yes, you are right but there is an aircraft which will change this: the Sukhoi Superjet 100. Take a look on wikipedia, and there are a few "western" countries which are interested in it.

Those are potential customers - does not mean they will order them. The reason some western countires are interested in this aircraft is the subcontractors include Boeing Commercial Airplanes Still with the history of russian aircraft I dont expect many airlines other than that from russian origin to order this aircraft unless the promotional or testing is done by Boeing itself!

[flyingsystem]

Im nearly sure that there will be some western countries which will order it. In my opinion, if there is at least one western country which order it, others will surely follow them.
It will be a serious competitor for the Embraer and Bombardier aircrafts.

And Boeing is not the only occidental subcontractor. For example there is the Italian company Finmeccanica which took a 25% share in the project. And another example is the french engines manufacturer SNECMA wich will build the engine with NPO Saturn. And thats not all: there are a lot of other western companies which are involved in the project.

[CombiFan]

PAK-DXB is a great courrier market as many courrier companies specially DHL are hubbing at DXB, the charges are very high, Pkr 173 plus FSC for courrier vsPKR 25 for perishables. Although the return leg will be virtually empty they should do alright with this business plan.

[CoyBoy]

Bhoja Yak42 were returned to Lithuanian Airlines, they are not in KHI, you must be mistaking them for Aero Asia RomBAC 111.

[Abbas Ali]

Senate’s standing committee for defence and defence production has directed Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to cancel the license of a new airline company Pakistan Airways; as it could not abide by the rules and regulations.

Source: The News

Related Links:

CAA Pakistan

www.astpakistan.com

[PK777]

Great why does the Govt get involved on such issues... I hope this not a step taken by current airlines already operating in Pakistan to prevent the competition.